Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
Sociology of Emotions
American Sociological Association
Mission
The ASA Section on Sociology of Emotions brings together social and behavioral scientists in order to promote the
general development of the study of emotions through the exchange of ideas, theory, research, and teaching. Scholars
from a variety of backgrounds are members of this section, and collectively encourage the study of emotions in
everyday social life. Substantive topics of investigation include: the expression and experience of emotions, emotions
in social interaction, identity and emotions, emotions in historical perspective, the cross-cultural study of emotions,
emotions and violence, and the traditions of theory and research in the area of emotions.
From the Chair’s Desk
Jody Clay-Warner
It’s been a busy few months for the Sociology of
Emotion section! Our committees have been hard
at work organizing paper sessions for the ASA
meetings, reading submissions for our awards,
and coordinating nominations for next year’s
officers. Heather Scheuerman, chair of the program
committee, reports that there were 15 papers
submissions for our single ASA session. This is a large
number of submissions given the size of our section, which speaks to the
growing interest in the study of emotion in sociology. Heather has selected five
papers for inclusion, featuring research on a wide of topics including trust, mass
media, and computer-human interaction. In addition to our open session, we will
also have a Chair’s Hour immediately preceding the business meetings. The
theme of the Chair’s Hour is “Emotions in Cross-Cultural Perspective.” We will
hear from scholars in the U.S. and abroad about new research on emotions and
culture. Presenting their research are Miliann Kang, Roger Patulny, Dawn
Robinson, Kimberly Rogers, and Rebecca Olson.
Content
1-2
From the Chair’s Desk
2
Section Officers
3
Emotion Section
Candidates
4
Social Media Report
Outstanding
Contribution Award
New Publication
Call for Contributions
5-6
Defining Shame as an
Emotions, Thomas Scheff
7
Graduate Student
Profiles
8
Center for the Study of
Social Dynamics
2013-14 Committees
9
Our award committees have also been busy. The Outstanding Recent
Contribution Award Committee received eight nominations. According to
committee chair Lisa Walker, the committee had a difficult time choosing
between the many high quality submissions. As recently announced, the
committee has chosen Eva Illouz’s book Why Love Hurts as the recipient of the
award. Congratulations to Eva for receiving the award in a particularly
competitive year.
Visit us online http://www2.asanet.org/Emotions/
Join the conversation on Facebook & Twitter @SocEmotions
109th Annual Meeting
Information
Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
From the Chair’s Desk Continued
The graduate student paper award committee, chaired by Pam Kirk, is in the midst of reading a large, diverse group of
submissions. I asked Pam to give me a sense of the general topics covered by the papers, and the list she supplied
covered almost every major area within the sociology of emotions. This is a good sign, as it suggests that our graduate
student members are well-equipped to carry on with the section’s mission as a home for scholars researching emotions
from a variety of perspectives. Our summer newsletter will feature articles on all of our 2014 award winners, as well as
reports from our award committees.
Finally, our Nominations Committee has put together a strong slate of candidates for consideration by the membership:
Chair, Tim Hallett and Karen Hegtvedt; Council (3-year term), Alicia Cast and Tim Owens; Council (1-year term),
Linda Burton and Amy Kroska; Secretary-Treasurer, Joe Dippong and Shane Sharp; Student Representative to Council,
Matt Andersson and Ryan Trettevik. If you have not received an e-mail with a link to your on-line ballot, please contact
ASA at governance@asanet.org. Election results will be announced in June. Many thanks to our Nominations
Committee: Ellen Granberg (Chair), Christopher Bail, Sarah Harkness, Cathryn Johnson, and Gretchen Peterson.
Thanks also to all who agreed to stand for office.
Once again, thanks to Jessica Leveto for her work as newsletter editor. In this edition, you’ll find information about our
members’ new publications (pg. 4) and a profile of graduate student member Andrew C. Patterson (pg. 7). Also in this
edition you’ll find a column by Tom Scheff in which he theorizes about the relationship between stigma and emotion
(pg. 5). Be sure to check out the section’s Twitter feed and Facebook page. We now have 1587 Twitter followers and
658 followers on our Facebook page. Check out these sources for section updates and announcements and also for news
about research on emotion. Jessica Leveto is managing our social media and newsletter, so please send her information
to post. Jessica is still looking for assistance in managing our section website. This is not a time consuming job, so if
you have web management skills and are willing to spend just a few hours a month updating the website, please let
Jessica know (jleveto@kent.edu).
Wishing everyone a happy end-of-semester!
Section Officers
Chair
Jody Clay-Warner
University of Georgia
jclayw@uga.edu
Council
Lisa Slattery Walker
University of North Carolina at
Charlotte
lisa.walker@uncc.edu
Secretary-Treasurer
Amy Wilkins
University of Colorado at
Boulder
amy.wilkins@colorado.edu
Emotions Section Officers
Chair Elect
Linda Francis
Cleveland State University
francislindae@gmail.com
Past Chair
Kathryn Lively
Dartmouth College
Kathryn.J.Lively@Dartmouth.edu
Ellen Granberg
Clemson University
granber@clemson.edu
Lauren Rivera
Northwestern University
l-rivera@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Lindsey Westermann Ayers
Kent State University
layers2@kent.edu
2
Newsletter, Webmaster &
Social Media
Jessica Leveto
Kent State University,
Ashtabula
jleveto@kent.edu
Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
Sociology of Emotions Section
Candidates
The ASA election for leadership opens on Tuesday, April
22, 2014 and is open until 5:00PM EDT Sunday, June 1,
2014. Below are the candidates for section council.
Chair Elect (1 Year Term)
Karen Hegtvedt, Emory University
Tim Hallett, Indiana University
HELP WANTED!
Webmaster
If you have design skills (or would like to learn
some) and would like to assist the current
webmaster with duties associated our section
website please email Jessica Leveto at
jleveto@kent.edu
Secretary/Treasurer (3 Year Term)
Shane Sharp, Northern Illinois University
Joe Dippong, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Council Members (3 Year Term)
Tim Owens, Kent State University
Alicia Cast, University of California, Santa Barbara
Council Members (1 Year Term)
Amy Kroska, University of Oklahoma
Linda Burton, Duke University
Student Members (1 Year Term)
Matt Andersson, University of Iowa
Ryan Trettevik, University of California, Riverside
@SocEmotions currently
has 1587 followers on
Twitter. Twitter remains a
space where we share new
publications, announcements and
other materials for anyone interested
in the Sociology of Emotions.
The “Sociology of
Emotions Section
American Sociological
Association” Facebook
page currently has 658
followers. Facebook posts include
recent publications, calls for papers,
section announcements and
provides a forum for dialogue.
3
Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
2014 Sociology of Emotions
Outstanding Recent Contribution Award
Congratulations to award winner Eva Illouz for her book “Why Love Hurts:
A Sociological Explanation.” Eva will receive the award during the section
business meeting at ASA.
The Outstanding Recent contribution award committee included Lisa
Walker (chair), James Jasper, and Alicia Cast.
NEW PUBLICATION: Cabin Pressure: African American
Pilots, Flight Attendants, and Emotional Labor
Louwanda Evans
From African American pilots being asked to carry people's luggage to patrons refusing
drinks from African American flight attendants, Cabin Pressure demonstrates that
racism is still very much alive in the "friendly skies." Author Louwanda Evans draws on
provocative interviews with African Americans in the flight industry to examine the
emotional labor involved in a business that offers occupational prestige, but also a
history of the systemic exclusion of people of color.
Join the Emotions Section
Visit the ASA Membership Page
Emotions Section #25
$12 Regular, $5 Student, $10 Low Income
4
Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
Defining Stigma as an Emotion
By Thomas Scheff
first chapter.)
The study of stigma has become one of the central
concerns in sociology, psychology and many other
disciplines, including medicine. Searching for the term on
Google Scholar reveals 677 k mentions. Given the amount
of interest, and the fact that it is interdisciplinary, we
probably need to define stigma as a concept, rather than
continue to use it as a vernacular word.
(The stigmatized person’s) identification with (other)
offenders like himself (e.g. mentally ill) holds him to
what repels him, transforming repulsion into shame,
and then transforming ashamedness itself into
something of which he is ashamed. (P.108)
Searching the literature for a definition of stigma brings up
a 2001 attempt by Link and Phelan.
Most important of all, the very notion of shameful
differences assumes a similarity in regard to crucial
beliefs, those regarding identity. (P. 13)
Stigma exists when elements of labeling,
stereotyping, separating, status loss and
discrediting occur in power situation that allows
these processes to occur. (p. 382)
Once the dynamics of shameful differentness are seen
as a general feature of social life, one can go on to
look at the relation of their study to the study of
neighboring matters associated with the term
“deviance”…(P. 140, last chapter).
This is a lengthy and complex definition that includes
behaviors and social elements (status, power).
Dictionaries, however, offer a much shorter and simpler
one. For example, the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary
defines stigma as “a mark of shame or discredit.”
Even though the Link and Phelan article on stigma (2001)
cites Goffman’s book several times, they don’t refer at all
to shame. As it turns out, this abstinence is not unusual.
The great majority of studies of stigma do not define it in
It seems that the Link/Phelan definition confounds stigma
itself with stigmatization, the process that leads to stigma.
Only one of the six elements in their definition can be
related to stigma, what they call “status loss,” which can
be seen as a roundabout way of referring to shame.
terms of shame, mostly don’t even use the word shame,
and don’t cite any of the shame literature.
For a preliminary estimate of the extent to which research
on stigma refers to shame, I searched a book on the social
psychology of stigma (Heatherton, et al, 2000) that has 14
chapters written by some fifty authors. The word shame
doesn’t appear in the index, nor its close kin,
embarrassment and humiliation, even though the Goffman
book is cited many times. However, several chapters have
a near miss, since they discuss Charles Cooley’s (1922)
idea of “the looking glass self.” They failed to notice
however, that according to Cooley, seeing one’s self as
others see us often ends in shame:
In his book on stigma, Goffman (1963) does not define it
directly, but makes many references to shame. Here are
four of them (For the reader’s convenience, I have bolded
the shame terms. However, in the third quote, the word
shameful was already bolded in the text.) Notice that in
the second quote, three shame terms occur in a single
sentence:
Shame becomes a central
possibility, arising from
the individual's
perception of one of his
own attributes as being
a defiling thing to
possess, and one he can
readily see himself as
not possessing. (P. 7,
“[The self] seems to have three principal elements:
1. The imagination of our appearance to the other
person
2. The imagination of his [or her] judgment of that
appearance
3. Some sort of self-feeling, such as pride or [shame]."
5
(p.184)
Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
(Scheff Continued)
References
Although sociologists have been referring to Cooley’s idea of the looking glass
self in great numbers since the 1950s, few have noticed the connection with
shame either, and most still don’t. What is going on?
Aiden, Ezra and John Mitchell. 2011.
http://books.google.com/ngrams
The Taboo on the S-Word
Cooley 1922. Human Nature and
Conduct. New York: Scribners.
The first studies of sexual behavior published by Kinsey (1948) and by Masters
and Johnson (1966) met condemnation because they discussed subjects that had
previously been taboo. Yet they quickly became known both to the research
world and to the public at large. Suppose, however, that they had used an
inoffensive but ambiguous word like LOVE or INTIMACY instead of the word
SEX, which at that time was more taboo than it is now. They would have caused
less offense, but their work would have become much less well known except
by the most diligent researchers.
Studies of the emotion of shame still face a similar dilemma because shame,
much more today than sex, appears to be taboo. This idea has been suggested by
the psychologist Gershen Kaufman, one of several writers who have argued that
shame is taboo in our society:
American society is a shame-based culture, but …shame remains
hidden. Since there is shame about shame, it remains under taboo.
….The taboo on shame is so strict …that we behave as if shame does
not exist (Kaufman 1989).
Another indication of taboo is the reduced usage of the word shame, as
predicted by Elias’s study. It is now possible to chart the occurrence of shame
and other words in millions of digitalized books from 1800 to 2007 in Google
Ngrams (Aiden and Michel 2011). I found that the use of the word shame in
American English and four European languages has decreased three-fold.
Finally, two further suggestions of taboo by researchers of shame that avoid the
word itself. Evelin Lindner’s ability to organize a worldwide following for the
study of shame themes may be due, at least in part, to avoiding the s-word,
especially in titles, not only for her organization (Human Dignity and
Humiliation Studies), but also her books (2000; 2006; 2006; 2010). Another
instance is the work of Robert W. Fuller (2003; 2006; 2008). He has attracted
large audiences all over the world using title words like Lindner’s and avoiding
the s-word.
The taboo on shame seems to have weakened in the last ten years among
researchers. The downward slope for the word shame has slowed slightly in the
Ngrams. But it continues to exert a powerful influence in the vernacular and
even in research: shame is still close to being unspeakable and unprintable. This
essay has suggested that stigma can be defined as shame, and also that this
usage might allow shame researchers to know of each other’s work. In a broader
sense, this change would also mean that stigma researchers, at least, would stop
reinforcing the taboo on shame.
6
Goffman, Erving. Stigma. 1963.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall
Fuller, Robert W. 2003. Somebodies and
Nobodies. Gabriola Island: New
Society Publishers.
Fuller, Robert W. 2006. All Rise. San
Francisco, CA: Barrett-Koehler
Publishers.
Fuller, Robert W. and Pamela A. Gerloff.
2008. Dignity for All. San Francisco,
CA: Barrett-Koehler Publishers.
Hetherton, Ted, Kleck, R., Hebl, M., and
Jull, J. The Social Psychology of
Stigma. 2000. New York: Guilford.
Kaufman, Gershon. 1989. The
Psychology of Shame. New York:
Springer.
Kinsey, Alfred, W. Pomeroy, and C.
Martin. Sexual Behavior in the
Human Male. Indiana University
Press, 1948.
Linder, Evelin. 2000. The Psychology of
Humiliation. Oslo: Oslo University.
___2006. Making Enemies. Westport,
Conn. Praeger.
___2006a. Emotions and Conflict.
Westport, Conn. Praeger.
___2010. Gender, humiliation, and
global security. Santa Barbara, CA:
Praeger
Link, Bruce and Jo Phelan. 2001.
Conceptualizing Stigma. Annual
Review of Sociology 27, 363- 385.
Masters, W. H.; Johnson, V.E. (1966).
Human Sexual Response. New York:
Bantam Books.
Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
Graduate Student Profile
Andrew C. Patterson
Call for Contributions
University of British Columbia
The Sociology of Emotions seeks
the following:
Dissertation Title: Political Regimes and
Health: Competing Explanations

Chair: Prof. Gerry Veenstra
Areas of Specialization: Health sociology;
political sociology; quantitative methodologies
and statistics; loneliness as a health
determinant; theories of causality in the
macrosocial and multilevel contexts
Website
Email: andrew.c.patterson@alumni.ubc.ca
Dissertation Abstract: Using 50 years of annual comparative data as well as a
replicable imputation strategy for missing data, my dissertation tests political
democracy as a determinant of health. On average, compared to people in nondemocracies those living in democratic nations have up to 10.8 years of added life
expectancy, 57% less infant mortality, and 21% less overall mortality. Constraints on
decision-making powers of elected leaders partially mediate the association between
democracy and health, while competitive participation of non-ruling actors in the
political arena partially mediates both executive constraints and democracy. Gross
domestic product fully or (in the case of infant mortality) partially explains the impact
of democracy and its mediators on health. Findings suggest democracy promotes
stronger health, although it may do so in large part by providing a business-friendly
environment that encourages growth in national income.
Biography: Currently, Mr. Patterson is completing a PhD in Sociology at the
University of British Columbia. His main interests are in the theory and methodology
of social causes at multiple levels of analysis. The focus of his dissertation is on
political regimes as an important cause of life expectancy at the macro-level. Key
questions about the accountability of elected leaders are emerging in this work,
although his findings also implicate broad patterns of institutionalization that occur in
democracies. Mr. Patterson also completed a Master of Arts in Family Studies and the
subject of his thesis was the mortality risk of loneliness. With Prof. Gerry Veenstra as
co-author, he published the main findings of his thesis in Social Science and Medicine in
2010. Currently, in addition to his dissertation he is working on a follow-up study that
contextualizes social isolation within a broader social arena, namely, by examining
how socioeconomic status structures the health risks of loneliness and objective social
isolation. Mr. Patterson has twice taught undergraduate social statistics at the
University of British Columbia. He also has working syllabi for classes teaching
graduate-level statistics, introductory sociology, determinants of health, classic and
contemporary theory, the sociology of crime, and research methods.
7
Upcoming conferences, calls
for papers, special issues of
journals or grant
opportunities
 Information related to
conferences that would be of
interest to section members.
 Profiles of graduate students
who are on the job market.
 Titles of new or forthcoming
books or articles that would
be of interest to section
members
 ”What's On Your
Bookshelf?" - A short
description of three books
that have been influential to
you
 Photos from recent
conferences.
 Updates on issues that are
relevant to the Sociology of
Emotion
 Online resources relevant to
Sociology of Emotions
(Blogs or other relevant
electronic resources)
If you have other relevant
materials please let us know, I
am happy to make a space for
new and innovative contributions
and contributors!
Send to Newsletter
Editor
Jessica Leveto jleveto@kent.edu
Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
The Center for the Study of Social Dynamics is a new qualitative
and experimental research lab located in the Department of
Sociology at the University of West Georgia. A University grant
awarded to Emotions Section member, Associate Professor Dr.
Pam Kirk, established the center. The center’s mission is to
promote research enhancing the professional development of
faculty and students in the social sciences while simultaneously
helping local organizations and the greater community who need
research assistance. The Center facilitates the development of
proposals for external funding and strengthens the reputation of the
College of Social Sciences as an innovative place for theory based,
scientific research. They are dedicated to creating a bridge for crossdisciplinary teaching, learning and research, including working
collaboratively with the College’s existing Survey Research Center.
What Tools Does the Facility Offer?
This newly renovated lab comes fullyequipped with everything student and
faculty researchers need to conduct both
networked and face to face interaction
studies.





11 Computer Stations
Recording Equipment
Group Interaction Room
Control/Observation Room
(coming soon!)
Portable Equipment for Field
Research
2013-2014 Committees
Outstanding Recent
Contribution Award
Publications Committee
Jessica Leveto (Chair)
Jody Clay-Warner
Lisa Walker (Chair)
James Jasper
Alicia Cast
Program Committee
Graduate Student Paper Award
Pamela Kirk (Chair)
Linda Francis
Jessica Collett
Nomination Committee
Ellen Granberg (Chair)
Christopher Bail
Sarah Harkness
Cathryn Johnson
Gretchen Peterson
8
Heather Scheuerman (open session)
Jody Clay-Warner (chair’s hour)
Volume 27, Number 4
Spring 2014
109th ASA Annual Meeting
Hard Times: The Impact of Economic Inequality on Families and
Individuals
EMOTIONS SECTION SESSIONS
2014 ASA Meetings
Section Reception (co-hosted with Social Psychology): Saturday, August 16, 6:30-8:30
Chair's Hour/Business Meeting: Sunday, August 17, 2:30-4:10
Section Paper Session: New Directions in the Sociology of Emotions: Sunday, Aug. 17,
12:30-2:10
Roundtable (co-hosted with Social Psychology): Monday, August 18, 2:30 - 4:10
Theme for 2015 Program of the American Sociological
Association: Sexualities in the Social World
110th ASA Annual Meeting
August 22-25, 2015
Chicago, Illinois
9